Illinois Route 37
Encyclopedia
Illinois Route 37, or Illinois 37, is a north–south route in southern Illinois. It is 155.07 miles (249.56 km) in length. Originally connecting Effingham
to Cairo
, it was a heavily-traveled highway before Interstate 57
was opened. That Interstate, which lies very close to most of Illinois 37 (indeed the entire route north of Pulleys Mills), supplanted it as a through route. Illinois 37 was long a part of the most direct route between Chicago and Memphis
. Despite its obvious significance in pre-Interstate times, it was never part of the U.S. Highway system. Illinois 37 has become a route of local significance instead of the busy, long-distance, inter-city highway that it was until the 1970s. As a town-to-town route, it especially serves communities which have no access to Interstate 57.
Between Effingham and a point near Watson
, a segment in which it shared a route with U.S. Route 45
, Illinois 37 has been decommissioned in favor of US 45. Between Watson and just north of Salem
, it angles westward and toward the south before meeting US 50
at Salem, Illinois 15
and Illinois 142
at Mount Vernon
, Interstate 64
south of Mount Vernon, Illinois 16
and Illinois 34
at Benton
, Illinois 149
at West Frankfort
, Illinois 13
at Marion
, and US 51
and Illinois 3
at its current southern terminus at Urbandale
. Both of Illinois Route 148
's termini branch from Route 37, the north terminus at Mount Vernon
, and the southern terminus just north of Pulley's Mill. It has no direct connection to Interstate 24
, which is far better approached from Interstate 57.
All of Illinois 37 is an undivided surface route.
!County
!Location
!Mile
!Junction
!Notes
|-
|rowspan=2|Pulaski
|
|
|
|
|-
|
|
|
|
|-
|Johnson
|West Vienna
|
|
|
|-
|rowspan=2|Williamson
|
|
|
|
|-
|Marion
|
|
|
|-
|rowspan=4|Franklin
|West Frankfort
|
|
|
|-
|rowspan=2|Benton
|bgcolor=#ddffdd|
|bgcolor=#ddffdd|
|bgcolor=#ddffdd|South end of IL 14 overlap
|-
|bgcolor=#ddffdd|
|bgcolor=#ddffdd|
|bgcolor=#ddffdd|North end of IL 14 overlap
|-
|
|
|
|
|-
|rowspan=3|Jefferson
|
|
|
|
|-
|rowspan=2|Mt. Vernon
|
|
|
|-
|
|
|
|-
|rowspan=2|Marion
|
|
|
|
|-
|Salem
|
|
|
|-
|Fayette
|Farina
|
|
|
|-
|Clay
|colspan=5 align=center|No major intersections
|-
|rowspan=2|Effingham
|
|
|
|
|-
|
|
|
|
|-
Effingham, Illinois
Effingham is a city in Effingham County, Illinois, United States. The population was 12,384 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Effingham County....
to Cairo
Cairo, Illinois
Cairo is the southernmost city in the U.S. state of Illinois. It is the county seat of Alexander County. Cairo is located at the confluence of the Mississippi and Ohio rivers. The rivers converge at Fort Defiance State Park, an American Civil War fort that was commanded by General Ulysses S. Grant...
, it was a heavily-traveled highway before Interstate 57
Interstate 57
Interstate 57 is an Interstate Highway in Missouri and Illinois that parallels the old Illinois Central rail line for much of its route. It goes from Miner, Missouri, at Interstate 55 to Chicago, Illinois, at Interstate 94. I-57 essentially serves as a shortcut route for travelers headed between...
was opened. That Interstate, which lies very close to most of Illinois 37 (indeed the entire route north of Pulleys Mills), supplanted it as a through route. Illinois 37 was long a part of the most direct route between Chicago and Memphis
Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis is a city in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Tennessee, and the county seat of Shelby County. The city is located on the 4th Chickasaw Bluff, south of the confluence of the Wolf and Mississippi rivers....
. Despite its obvious significance in pre-Interstate times, it was never part of the U.S. Highway system. Illinois 37 has become a route of local significance instead of the busy, long-distance, inter-city highway that it was until the 1970s. As a town-to-town route, it especially serves communities which have no access to Interstate 57.
Between Effingham and a point near Watson
Watson, Illinois
Watson is a village in Effingham County, Illinois, United States. The population was 729 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Watson is located at ....
, a segment in which it shared a route with U.S. Route 45
U.S. Route 45
U.S. Route 45 is a north–south United States highway. US 45 is a border-to-border route, from Lake Superior to the Gulf of Mexico. A sign at the highway's northern terminus notes the total distance as ....
, Illinois 37 has been decommissioned in favor of US 45. Between Watson and just north of Salem
Salem, Illinois
Salem is a city located in the U.S. state of Illinois. It is the county seat of Marion County. The population was 7,485 at the 2010 census.Salem is the birthplace of William Jennings Bryan and his brother vice presidential candidate Charles W. Bryan, the G. I. Bill of Rights, and Miracle Whip salad...
, it angles westward and toward the south before meeting US 50
U.S. Route 50
U.S. Route 50 is a major east–west route of the U.S. Highway system, stretching just over from Ocean City, Maryland on the Atlantic Ocean to West Sacramento, California. Until 1972, when it was replaced by Interstate Highways west of the Sacramento area, it extended to San Francisco, near...
at Salem, Illinois 15
Illinois Route 15
Illinois Route 15 is an east–west highway with its western terminus at Illinois Route 3, U.S. Route 40, I-55, I-64, and I-70 and its eastern terminus at Wabash River at the Illinois/Indiana Border where it meets Indiana 64. This is a distance of ....
and Illinois 142
Illinois Route 142
Illinois Route 142 is a major arterial road in southeastern Illinois. It runs from near the town center of Equality at Calhoun Street, a local road, north to Illinois Route 37 and the northern terminus of Illinois Route 148 in Mount Vernon. This is a distance of .- Route description :Illinois 142...
at Mount Vernon
Mount Vernon, Illinois
Mount Vernon is a city located near the center of Jefferson County, Illinois, in the United States. In the 2010 census, the city's reported population was 15,277 people....
, Interstate 64
Interstate 64
Interstate 64 is an Interstate Highway in the Midwestern and Southeastern United States. Its western terminus is at I-70, U.S. 40, and U.S. 61 in Wentzville, Missouri. Its eastern terminus is at an interchange with I-264 and I-664 at Bowers Hill in Chesapeake, Virginia. As I-64 is concurrent with...
south of Mount Vernon, Illinois 16
Illinois Route 16
Illinois Route 16 is an arterial east–west highway in central Illinois. Its western terminus is at the Joe Page Bridge over the Illinois River in Hardin, while its eastern terminus is at Paris at Illinois Route 1 and U.S. Route 150, with Illinois Route 133. This is a distance of .- Route...
and Illinois 34
Illinois Route 34
Illinois Route 34 is a north–south state road in southern Illinois. It runs from a former ferry crossing to Kentucky Route 297 across the Ohio River in Rosiclare to Illinois Routes 14/37 in Benton. This is a distance of .- Route description :...
at Benton
Benton, Illinois
Benton is a city in Franklin County, Illinois, United States. The population was 7,087 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Franklin County. The city is part of the Metro Lakeland area.- History :...
, Illinois 149
Illinois Route 149
Illinois Route 149 is an east–west state road in southern Illinois. It runs from Illinois Route 3 near Grimsby east to Illinois Route 37 in Thompsonville. This is a distance of .- Route description :...
at West Frankfort
West Frankfort, Illinois
West Frankfort is a city in Franklin County, Illinois, USA. The population was 8,182 at the 2010 census. The city is part of the Metro Lakeland area.-History:...
, Illinois 13
Illinois Route 13
Illinois Route 13 is a major east–west state route in southern Illinois. Illinois 13 has its western terminus at Centreville at Illinois Route 157 and its eastern terminus at the Kentucky state line and the Ohio River, at Kentucky Route 56. This is a distance of .- Route description :Illinois...
at Marion
Marion, Illinois
The city of Marion is the county seat of Williamson County, Illinois. The 2010 census counted 17,193 residents, making Marion the 25th most populated city outside of the Chicago Metropolitan Area, in Illinois, and the second most populous city in Southern Illinois, outside of the Metro-East, behind...
, and US 51
U.S. Route 51
U.S. Route 51 is a north–south United States highway that runs for 1,286 miles from the western suburbs of New Orleans, Louisiana to within of the Wisconsin-Michigan border. Much of the highway in Illinois and southern Wisconsin runs parallel to or overlaps Interstate 39...
and Illinois 3
Illinois Route 3
Illinois Route 3 is a major north–south arterial state highway in southwestern Illinois. It has its southern terminus at Cairo Junction at the intersection of Interstate 57 and U.S. Route 51, and its northern terminus in Grafton at Illinois Route 100...
at its current southern terminus at Urbandale
Urbandale, Illinois
Urbandale is an unincorporated community in Alexander County, Illinois, United States. Urbandale is located on Illinois Route 37 north of Cairo. Urbandale is located at latitude 37.053 and longitude -89.186. The elevation of Urbandale is 312 feet....
. Both of Illinois Route 148
Illinois Route 148
Illinois Route 148 is a north–south state road in southern Illinois. It runs from Illinois Route 37 at Pulleys Mill north to the western terminus of Illinois Route 142 and Illinois 37 south of downtown Mount Vernon...
's termini branch from Route 37, the north terminus at Mount Vernon
Mount Vernon, Illinois
Mount Vernon is a city located near the center of Jefferson County, Illinois, in the United States. In the 2010 census, the city's reported population was 15,277 people....
, and the southern terminus just north of Pulley's Mill. It has no direct connection to Interstate 24
Interstate 24
Interstate 24 is an Interstate Highway in the Midwestern and Southeastern United States. It runs diagonally from Interstate 57 to Chattanooga, Tennessee, at Interstate 75....
, which is far better approached from Interstate 57.
All of Illinois 37 is an undivided surface route.
Major intersections
{| class=wikitable!County
!Location
!Mile
!Junction
!Notes
|-
|rowspan=2|Pulaski
|
|
|
|
|-
|
|
|
|
|-
|Johnson
|West Vienna
West Vienna, Illinois
West Vienna, also known as Boles, is an unincorporated community in Johnson County, Illinois, United States. West Vienna is located at the junction of Illinois Route 37 and Illinois Route 146 west of Vienna. West Vienna has a post office with ZIP code 62909, though the post office uses the name...
|
|
|
|-
|rowspan=2|Williamson
Williamson County, Illinois
-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*92.7% White*3.8% Black*0.4% Native American*0.8% Asian*0.0% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*1.7% Two or more races*0.4% Other races*2.0% Hispanic or Latino -2000:...
|
|
|
|
|-
|Marion
Marion, Illinois
The city of Marion is the county seat of Williamson County, Illinois. The 2010 census counted 17,193 residents, making Marion the 25th most populated city outside of the Chicago Metropolitan Area, in Illinois, and the second most populous city in Southern Illinois, outside of the Metro-East, behind...
|
|
|
|-
|rowspan=4|Franklin
Franklin County, Illinois
Franklin County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 39,561, which is an increase of 1.4% from 39,018 in 2000. Its county seat is Benton.-History:...
|West Frankfort
West Frankfort, Illinois
West Frankfort is a city in Franklin County, Illinois, USA. The population was 8,182 at the 2010 census. The city is part of the Metro Lakeland area.-History:...
|
|
|
|-
|rowspan=2|Benton
Benton, Illinois
Benton is a city in Franklin County, Illinois, United States. The population was 7,087 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Franklin County. The city is part of the Metro Lakeland area.- History :...
|bgcolor=#ddffdd|
|bgcolor=#ddffdd|
|bgcolor=#ddffdd|South end of IL 14 overlap
|-
|bgcolor=#ddffdd|
|bgcolor=#ddffdd|
|bgcolor=#ddffdd|North end of IL 14 overlap
|-
|
|
|
|
|-
|rowspan=3|Jefferson
Jefferson County, Illinois
Jefferson County is a county located in the southern part of the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 38,827, which is a decrease of 3.0% from 40,045 in 2000...
|
|
|
|
|-
|rowspan=2|Mt. Vernon
|
|
|
|-
|
|
|
|-
|rowspan=2|Marion
|
|
|
|
|-
|Salem
Salem, Illinois
Salem is a city located in the U.S. state of Illinois. It is the county seat of Marion County. The population was 7,485 at the 2010 census.Salem is the birthplace of William Jennings Bryan and his brother vice presidential candidate Charles W. Bryan, the G. I. Bill of Rights, and Miracle Whip salad...
|
|
|
|-
|Fayette
Fayette County, Illinois
Fayette County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 22,140, which is an increase of 1.6% from 21,802 in 2000. Its county seat is Vandalia...
|Farina
Farina, Illinois
Farina is a village in Fayette County, Illinois, United States. As of the 1990 census, the village population was 575, in 254 housing units. The population was 558 at the 2000 census...
|
|
|
|-
|Clay
Clay County, Illinois
Clay County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. In 1950, the U.S. Census Bureau placed the mean center of U.S. population in Clay County. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 13,815, which is a decrease of 5.1% from 14,560 in 2000...
|colspan=5 align=center|No major intersections
|-
|rowspan=2|Effingham
|
|
|
|
|-
|
|
|
|
|-